Why do seemingly logical individuals arrive at such differing conclusions regarding existence, all the while maintaining that logic allows nothing else? Is the same information being evaluated? Is the same definition of logic being considered?

Most people are ignorant of the true facts (sometimes willfully ignorant), and logic can only produce the same conclusions if you start with the same facts. A logical argument must be valid and sound for its conclusion to be true, and soundness requires that all its premises actually be true (while validity requires avoiding all formal and informal fallacies).

To make matters worse, far too many people don't actually know what it means to construct a logical argument or how to do it. Hence their claim to have reached a logical conclusion is vacuous.

And even of those who know (or ought to know) both the facts and how to construct a valid logical argument, a disturbingly large number still delusionally claim to have constructed sound and valid arguments when any plain analysis shows they have not.

If everyone rested solely on genuinely sound and valid arguments from the same information, everyone would agree on every substantive question of fact.

The Fallacy Files

Atheist view Christian view

Romans 1:18-20 (NASB):
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

The Bible teaches that men suppress the truth that God has revealed to them in unrighteousness. This means that they prefer unrighteousness over truth.

Someone might say that they know non-Christians who are good people, honest folks, hard-working and law-abiding. Not all non-Christians act like Joseph Stalin or Attila the Hun. So this whole idea of suppressing the truth in unrighteousness is obviously hogwash: non-Christians are not necessarily unrighteous.

But, according to the Bible, ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Further, Christ teaches that the greatest command is to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:28-30). There is not a single non-Christian in the world who loves the Christian God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength, nor do they even try to. Since this is the greatest commandment, what could be more unrighteous than to disobey it?

Therefore, the Bible teaches that when people consider the facts, they come to different conclusions out of a desire for unrighteousness, and not out of a desire for truth.

Namely, if I don't want to bow down and serve someone else (like God, for example), if I want to be my own boss, then I will come to the conclusion that God does not exist and claim that "logic" insists upon it. However, my logic will necessarily be horribly flawed, and I will wind up claiming some pretty stupid things, like the idea that nothingness has the ability to create everything.

If I'm afraid of being called names because of having an invisible wish-granting friend, then, out of cowardice, I may claim that I do not believe such a person exists, based on "logic", even though logic in fact insists upon His existence.

If I have been horribly wronged by people who claim to be Christians, I may insist that the Christian belief system is not logical, simply out of spite, even though it is the only belief system that is logical.

Apart from the reasons just presented, namely pride, cowardice, and spite, there are innumerable other reasons that someone will claim to be logically deducing something contrary to Christianity, but those deductions are universally false.

Ultimately, all people know that there is only one God, that He is the measure of perfect goodness, that they themselves are sinners and deserve condemnation, and that only God can save them. Some people accept these obvious truths, and others choose to suppress them in unrighteousness.

Where do you stand? Are you seeking the truth? Or are you suppressing it in unrighteousness?

John 14:6 (NASB):
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

The Logical Basis of Christianity

Atheist view Christian view